Second half goals from Paco Alcacer and Lukasz Piszczek earned Borussia Dortmund a vital win in Mainz, taking them seven points clear at the top the Bundesliga table.
Dortmund began against Mainz as they left off against Bayern Munich last time out, dominating the opening proceedings. While controlling possession chances came for Axel Witsel and Marco Reus, the captain having the better of the two with his near post header hitting the side-netting. Mainz had been battling, but struggling to get into the game until the final 10 minutes of the half. Jean-Phillipe Mateta forced a save from Roman Bürki, but Dortmund handled the pressure to end the first half even.
The second half came alive at the Opel-Arena. Half chances came for Mario Götze, but the BVB forward couldn’t make the most of them and was replaced by Alcacer midway through the half. Two minutes after coming on and the Spaniard had his eighth goal as a substitute this season, tapping home from Reus’ pass across goal after Sancho’s brilliant through-ball. Mainz weren’t deterred, though, and levelled minutes later after Robin Quaison capatalised on a deflected pass to finish his chance past Bürki. Just six minutes later and Dortmund re-took the lead through an outstanding Lukasz Piszczek strike, going in off the bar at Robin Zentner’s near post. The league leaders held on to remain unbeaten, and extended their grip on top spot to seven points ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt.
